The British government chooses zero tolerance for pet thieves, starting with dogs, the most targeted.  Ministers are in fact introducing new drastic measures, including the crime of ‘pet abduction’, therefore of ‘kidnapping’ (a term used for human beings), punishable by a prison sentence of up to 7 years in prison, according to sources cited by the Daily Telegraph.  Currently, however, the animal is treated as a property and therefore the law sanctions the economic loss and not the emotional loss, as the conservative executive intends to do.

TWO THOUSAND DOG THEFT REPORTED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM LAST YEAR

“Pets are regarded as family members across the country, and the increase in theft is a very alarming fact,” said Environment Minister George Eustice.  In fact, last year about two thousand dog thefts were reported and it also seems that the lockdown introduced for the coronavirus pandemic has had an impact, increasing the demand for pets in the United Kingdom and consequently the illegal trade.

AniMa24